Two Teams Emerge as Front-Runners for Jae Crowder

Two teams have emerged as front-runners in the sweepstakes for Phoenix Suns PF Jae Crowder.

The Phoenix Suns have been actively trying to rid themselves of Jae Crowder for months. Although the two sides officially agreed to a mutual absence prior to training camp, the Suns were reportedly trying to move him over the summer months as well. 

Whether or not that pushed the two parties further can be debated, but Crowder has played his last minutes in Phoenix. The next time he touches a court will be for a new organization. 

We've seen numerous teams linked to Crowder for various reasons. For contenders, he's a player who can add a valuable three-and-d presence on the wing. For teams looking to clear cap space for the future, he's in the last year of his deal. 

We've seen teams like Miami, Boston, Cleveland and others interested in Crowder's services, but The Athletic's Shams Charania says others have emerged as front-runners. 

Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks Considered Top Landing Spots for Jae Crowder

"Across the league, multiple teams are tracking the Phoenix Suns in the trade market as they work to find a home for disgruntled forward Jae Crowder. The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks have been engaged with the Suns on a potential Crowder deal in recent weeks and months, but recently there’s been a new wrinkle across the trade landscape," Charania said. 

The Hawks would like to include forward John Collins in a deal, according to Charania.

"The Hawks have opened up preliminary trade discussions around forward John Collins, as interested teams inquire, league sources tell The Athletic. The Suns are a team showing desire in Collins, those sources have added, but they appear uninclined to take on the long-term money of Collins, who is in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract," he said. 

"The Hawks don’t have an imminent deal in place involving Collins, those sources say, and executives around the league believe a potential deal will be weeks and potentially months in the making ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline."

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